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'We're still waiting for flood defences - 10 years on from bridge collapse'

Richard EdwardsNorth Yorkshire political reporter
Getty Images View across a swollen River Wharfe in Tadcaster showing substantial damage to the central section of a sandstone bridge. In the background there are Georgian buildings lining the town's high street.Getty Images
The bridge succumbed to the swollen waters after days of heavy rain over the Christmas period in 2015

Ten years on from the devastating Christmas floods which swept away Tadcaster's 18th Century bridge, people in the North Yorkshire market town are calling for "no more delays" to long-awaited flood defence works.

The Grade II listed stone bridge across the River Wharfe was destroyed on 29 December 2015 - splitting the community in two - and was not fully reopened until February 2017.

In late 2024, the Environment Agency submitted a planning application for a multimillion-pound flood defence scheme to North Yorkshire Council. Last autumn, officials asked for extra time to review it.

Paula Marr, whose business Genesis Hair Design was flooded in 2015 and again in 2022, said: "It's been 10 years and we're no further forward. We need spades in the ground."

BBC/RICHARD EDWARDS Paula Marr - whose salon Genesis Hair Design was flooded in 2015 and 2022 -said she tries to stay positive - but the threat of further flooding is always "looming." Paula is standing in her salon in front of her Christmas tree. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a black T-shirt with pictures of cocktail glasses on it.BBC/RICHARD EDWARDS
Hairdresser Paula Marr said she tries to stay positive - but the threat of further flooding is always "looming."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said the agency remained "fully committed" to delivering a scheme which protects Tadcaster from future flooding.

The request for a "short" extension to review the planning application followed concerns raised during the planning process, they added.

Recalling the 2015 flood which came after days of heavy rain over the Christmas period, Ms Marr said: "I'd just left the salon and taken my wellies off when the bridge collapsed in 2015.

"I came straight back down - it was unbelievable to see the damage.

"It's always looming in the background. It's always in the back of your mind, 'what if it comes up again?' It's imperative that we get those defences."

Ms Marr, who owns the building she trades from, said she could no longer get insurance cover for flooding.

"I was offered cover last year with a £75,000 excess, which obviously I didn't go for," she said.

She has also called for the government to set up a "business interruption cover" fund, so traders can pay their staff if they are forced to temporarily close by any future floods.

"It's up to me to put money away to put the building back together, but it would be good for peoples' peace of mind to know their wages are covered for a period of time if there's more flooding," she added.

BBC/OLIVIA RICHWALD An image of Tadcaster's bridge, which had to be rebuilt after being destroyed in the 2015 Christmas floods. The bridge is sandstone coloured and four of its arches can be seen in the picture. The River Wharfe underneath is calm. A lone person is standing on the bridge looking out over the river.BBC/OLIVIA RICHWALD
Tadcaster's bridge was repaired and reopened in February 2017 - 13 months after the flood

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the government inherited flood defences in the "worst condition" on record.

They said ministers were investing at least £10.5bn across England until 2036 to better protect nearly 900,000 properties.

But to expand a government and insurance industry scheme known as Flood Re, set up to support households in high flood risk areas, would require "an additional significant levy," they added.

"That would raise costs for small businesses and consumers."

A few doors down from Ms Marr's Commercial Street business, Richard High, who runs The Coffee Club, said the recent wet weather - along with the flood defence delay - had been causing him sleepless nights.

BBC/RICHARD EDWARDS Richard High, who runs The Coffee Club in Tadcaster, is standing in the doorway of his cafe. He is wearing a black T-shirt and smiling at the camera. His face is bathed in late afternoon sunshine.BBC/RICHARD EDWARDS
Richard High runs The Coffee Club in Tadcaster

"I'm checking apps on my phone in the night, wondering if the business will be gone in the morning.

"Nobody will insure us - those defences need to be done straight away.

"You build a business knowing it could be gone in one night.

"My message to the Environment Agency is 'please just get it sorted."

BBC/RICHARD EDWARDS Judy Noble - who remembers the disruption caused by the collapse of Tadcaster's bridge - is standing on the banks of the River Wharfe. A gate, leading to some woodland, is behind her. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a light-green baseball cap, a scarf and a dark jacket.BBC/RICHARD EDWARDS
Judy Noble remembers the disruption caused by the collapse of Tadcaster's bridge

A short distance away, dog walker Judy Noble described the bridge collapse as a "surreal moment" as it started to sink in that the town had been cut in two.

"I can't understand why they are waiting so long to get the defences built," she said.

"Do they need a recurrence of what happened 10 years ago?

"I know there is no funding out there, but we are talking about peoples' lives.

"With climate change we can't predict the weather, and they aren't thinking 'Is it going to happen again?' They're thinking 'When is it going to happen again?'"

The Environment Agency spokesperson said: "It is important that we take the time to address the issues raised and ensure the scheme has the best chance of securing planning consent, as we know how important this project is for the town."

Ten years on: The night Tadcaster bridge collapsed

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